Wellness at Meetings: Learn From These Planners

The Incentive Research Foundation conducted a comprehensive survey involving over 100 planners to explore the wellness practices they’ve successfully implemented in their meetings and events.

The respondent profile predominately consists of planners who:

• Plan numerous meetings of various types throughout the year, with some organizing more than 10 events.
• Plan a diverse mix of sales meetings, conferences, trade shows, and incentive travel experiences.
• Typically plan meetings that most commonly host between 100 and 500 attendees.

One interesting finding from the survey revealed that the same wellness practices that received high marks and praise from some planners were deemed unsuitable or ineffective by others, highlighting the varied needs of different audiences.

You can’t please everyone, but understanding the interests and preferences of the majority of your audience will greatly assist you in selecting the right wellness features for your events. Consider surveying attendees both before (if possible) and after the meeting to better tailor and enhance the session content. Some activities may not work as intended because they are either not marketed effectively or lack a clear connection to the overall meeting strategy. The way wellness and sustainability initiatives are communicated is half the battle; knowing what attendees truly want and expect is the other crucial part of the equation. By focusing on these aspects, planners can create a more engaging and fulfilling experience for all participants.

Here are wellness offerings planners said worked for their meetings:

Group Fitness

• Morning/Afternoon fit walks or 5k
• Gamification with prizes to encourage participation
• Yoga/fitness sessions
• Cycling to venue
• Geocache/Scavenger Hunts
• Team Building

Healthy Eating

• Chef taught lessons on how to make a healthy meal, then serve that meal for lunch/dinner
• Locally-sourced/organic ingredients
• Low calorie/Low sodium meals/snacks

Wellness Checks

• Acupuncture
• Skin Rejuvenation
• Massages
• Blood Pressure Checks
• Meditation
• Stretching
• Health Awareness

Creative Experiences

• Artistic projects
• Puppy Play Session
• Speakers

Sustainability 

• Zero Waste/Reduced Waste Meetings

See the full survey results from the Incentive Research Foundation here: The IRF Wellness in Meetings and Incentive Travel Study